View source for WJEC (exam board)

{{short description|British examination board based in Wales}}
{{Third-party|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = WJEC
| native name = {{native_name|cy|CBAC}}
| native_name_lang = 
| logo = WJEC CBAC logo.svg
| image = WJEC Cardiff 1.JPG
| caption = Headquarters of the WJEC
| formerly = Welsh Joint Education Committee<br />{{native_name|cy|Cyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru}}
| formation = {{start date and age|1948}}<ref name="wjec.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.wjec.co.uk/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=WJEC }}</ref>
| full_name = 
| purpose = [[Examination board]]
| headquarters = [[Cardiff]], Wales
| region_served = [[Wales]], [[England]] and [[Northern Ireland]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''WJEC''' ({{langx|cy|CBAC}}) is an [[examination boards in the United Kingdom|examination board]] providing examinations, professional development and educational resources to schools and colleges in [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] under its own name, and the '''Eduqas''' brand for [[England]].

==History==
The Welsh Joint Education Committee was established as a consortium of Welsh [[Local Education Authorities]] in 1948, replacing the [[Central Welsh Board]].<ref name="wjec.co.uk"/> It is now a [[registered charity]], and a [[company limited by guarantee]], led by a group trustees drawn from the local authorities in Wales and independents from both England and Wales. The organisation is based in Cardiff with a subsidiary company, WJEC CBAC Services Limited, providing specialist printing and publication services. WJEC is run on a day-to-day basis by a senior management team with experience in both the education and commercial sectors.

==Qualifications==

WJEC’s qualifications include traditional academic and work-related subjects at [[Entry Level]], [[GCSE]], AS/[[A Level]], other level 3 qualifications such as Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Criminology<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/criminology/criminology-level-3-from-2015/index.html|title=Criminology Level 3 (from 2015) |publisher=WJEC |access-date=2018-04-18}}</ref> or Level 3 Diploma/Certificate in Medical Science<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/science/vocational/medical-science-level-3/|title=Medical Science Level 3 (from 2016) |publisher=WJEC |access-date=2018-04-18}}</ref> as well as [[Functional Skills]] and [[Key Skills]]. As competition between examination boards on qualifications syllabuses and educational standards for GCSE and A Levels is often discussed in the media, WJEC was interrogated by the British House of Commons on this matter and published a written declaration where it responded to the questions asked by the UK Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmeduc/141/141we34.htm|title=Education Committee: Written evidence submitted by WJEC |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] }}</ref> A recent report by the BBC shows that there is an increasing trend for exam papers to be remarked because of growing allegations of inefficiency in grading under WJEC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-26642146|title=Exam board to re-mark GCSE papers|date=19 March 2014|work=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=Source does not mention inefficiency nor increasing trend for remarking.|date=August 2015}}

WJEC has introduced a computerized assessment system for some subjects to improve the examination experience and increase efficiency of marking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wjec.co.uk/teachers/e-assessment/|title=e-Assessment |publisher=WJEC }}</ref>

WJEC provides [[Qualifications Wales]]-regulated qualifications to all state schools and colleges in Wales. Independent schools in Wales may choose between qualifications regulated by Welsh Government or those regulated by the [[Government of the United Kingdom]]. WJEC also collaborates with the [[University of Cambridge]] to offer educational qualifications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgescp.com/Upage.php?p=pe%5Ewjec%5Eintro|title=Cambridge School Classics Project (NA)|publisher=Cambridge School Classics Project}}</ref>

New GCSEs, AS/A levels and vocational qualifications have been developed to incorporate the changes as outlined by the [[Welsh Government]] in their own series of reforms.

WJEC also provides the [[Welsh Baccalaureate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/welsh-baccalaureate/|title=Welsh Baccalaureate |publisher=WJEC }}</ref> This offers a programme of study incorporating working with employers, community activities, individual investigations and key skills, as well as students’ GCSEs, GNVQs or A level studies.

WJEC offers more than 13,000 past papers, mark schemes and marked exemplars free of charge via their website, along with digital resources in English and Welsh. WJEC also provides an Online Exam Review (OER) in order to provide instant exam results analysis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oer.wjec.co.uk/|title=Online Exam Review |publisher=WJEC }}</ref>

==Eduqas==

WJEC offers qualifications regulated by England's [[Ofqual]] through the brand Eduqas. The brand was developed as a response to diverging qualifications between England and Wales. Existing specifications being taught in schools and colleges in England continued to be branded WJEC until they were reformed (first teaching from 2015, 2016 or 2017) and relabelled Eduqas. Eduqas qualifications are also available in Northern Ireland, providing they meet [[CCEA]] Accreditation's regulations. Some Eduqas qualifications are also available in Wales where no [[Qualifications Wales]]-regulated equivalent exists.

The WJEC brand is used only for qualifications regulated by Qualifications Wales. Some WJEC qualifications are also available in Northern Ireland and a very small number of vocational qualifications are available in England.

==Professional development==
[[File:The_new_Welsh_Joint_Education_Committee_building,_Western_Avenue,Cardiff_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1889082.jpg|thumb|Main entrance to the headquarters, built on the site of the former ''[[Teledu Cymru]]'' studios]]

WJEC runs a programme of [[professional development]] with their subject specialists and Chief or Principal Examiners throughout England and Wales.

==National Youth Arts Wales==
WJEC previously managed the [[National Youth Orchestra of Wales]], National Youth Dance Wales and National Youth Theatre of Wales, under the joint brand of [[National Youth Arts Wales]] in partnership with {{lang|cy|[[Tŷ Cerdd]]}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.childreninwales.org.uk/news/news-archive/independent-report-safeguarding-future-wales-national-youth-arts-ensembles-published-270116-w/|title=Independent report into safeguarding the future of Wales' National Youth Arts Ensembles published, 27/01/16 [W]|website=Children in Wales|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>

In 2016, [[Welsh Government]] recommended that the ensembles become managed under one unified body. WJEC ceased to manage the ensembles as of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/welsh-government-backs-changes-youth-arts-infrastructure|title=Welsh Government backs changes to youth arts infrastructure|website=ArtsProfessional|date=29 January 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>

==Welsh for adults==
WJEC provides resources for adults learning [[Welsh language|Welsh]], allowing candidates to show their speaking, listening, reading and writing abilities at different levels. They also provide Welsh examinations designed for adult learners. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjec.co.uk/qualifications/welsh-for-adults/|title=Welsh for Adults|website=www.wjec.co.uk|access-date=2019-10-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wjec.co.uk/ WJEC]
* [http://eduqas.co.uk/ Eduqas]
* [http://resources.wjec.co.uk/ WJEC Resources]
* [http://resources.eduqas.co.uk/ Eduqas Resources]
* [https://questionbank.wjec.co.uk/question-bank/question-search.html/ WJEC Question Bank]
* [http://oer.wjec.co.uk/ WJEC Online Exam Review]
* [http://www.nyaw.co.uk/ National Youth Arts Wales]

{{Examination boards in the United Kingdom}}
{{Education in Cardiff}}
{{Education in Wales|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Education in Wales]]
[[Category:Education in England]]
[[Category:Education in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Examination boards in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Qualification awarding bodies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies based in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Educational organisations based in Wales]]